2, 4, 6, 8: Who Do We Appreciate?

A minister wanted to modernize his church a little bit. So he had the paper-towel dispensers removed from the restrooms and he had those hot-air hand dryers put in. But then, a couple weeks later, he had the hot-air hand dryers taken out of the restrooms and the paper-towel dispensers put back in. Somebody asked him, “Why?” The minister said, because he went into the restroom the other day and someone had put a sign on one of the hot-air hand dryers. The sign said, “If you want to know what last Sunday’s sermon was about, press here.” I imagine there are some ministers who’ve given sermons that aren’t appreciated by everyone. I wouldn’t know. I’ve never experienced that.

Charles Schwab, the investment expert, says, “The way to develop the best that is in a [person] is by appreciation and encouragement.” I think life would be better, people would do better, things would run better, if we all appreciated those around us more. So, let us appreciate, if not the preachers in our lives, the spiritual guides in our lives.

I heard a preacher preach a sermon once, quoting a Bible verse, to justify not tipping waiters and waitresses, because they’re “just doing their job.” Yikes! The preacher said: You don’t have to tip waiters and waitresses, if they’re not going over and above “just doing their job.” Right. It’s not as if waiters and waitresses are being paid less than minimum wage, with the understanding that customers will increase their pay by tipping them. I think there’s a special place in hell for people who don’t tip waiters and waitresses. And for preachers who preach sermons that say,  “Don’t tip waiters and waitresses.” (And I don’t even believe in hell, I’m just using it to make a point.)

Ralph Marston started a website several years ago called, “The Daily Motivator.” Now, Ralph Marston is rich and famous. Ralph Marston says, “Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you.” I think we should all appreciate workers we see in our everyday lives. So, let us express our appreciation to waiters and waitresses, in the way that they appreciate: by tipping them. They say you should tip 15 to 20%. (Personally, I try to tip at least 20%. Not because I’m so generous; it’s just easier to figure out 20% than 15%.)

I think some of you may know that I am a science-phobe. Actually, it’s not that I fear science, I just don’t have a scientific mind. I appreciate all that science has given us - space rockets, man on the moon, tang - I just don’t always understand science. For those who are familiar with the TV show “The Big Bang Theory,” I am the Penny of life. (Penny is the non-scientific foil on the show.)

Anthony Daniels may, I’m not sure, but may share my non-scientific mind. Anthony Daniels is the actor who played C-3PO in the Star Wars movies. (He wasn’t the little robot-y thing, R2d2; he was the one who looked like the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz.”) Anthony Daniels says, now, “I have a greater appreciation for kitchen appliances, having played one.” I think we should all (including me) appreciate those who use science to make life better. So, let us express our appreciation to scientists, for making discoveries that usually advance our lives: in space, in the kitchen, everywhere.

Voltaire, the philosopher and advocate for religious freedom, was born in Paris in 1694. Voltaire was an artist, a prolific writer of every genre: poems, plays, novels, essays, historical and scientific works. Voltaire says, “Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” Artists, like Voltaire - poets, playwrights, painters and more - share with us their vision of life, even if it makes us uncomfortable. I think artists are often unappreciated (that’s why they’re sometimes called starving artists). So, let us express our appreciation to artists: poets, playwrights, painters and more (including church singers and musicians).

I saw a bumper sticker a few years ago that said, “If you can read this bumper sticker, thank a teacher.” I think one of the most under-appreciated professions in America is teaching. Teachers teach our kids, they taught us and we rarely express our appreciation. Solomon Ortiz is a former Democratic congressman from Texas. (My guess is that being a Democratic congressman from Texas puts you on the endangered species list.) Solomon Ortiz says: “...we must all do more to show our continued appreciation for our Nation's leading role models.” Teachers. I think we should all appreciate those who teach our kids and who taught us. So, let us express our appreciation to teachers (including, of course, Sunday School teachers), for helping us to learn how to think for ourselves.

I heard or read once that on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, a teacher down south went into her classroom and announced the president’s death. The school kids cheered. Yikes! Talk about living in two Americas. (I can’t imagine living in that America.) Obviously not everyone appreciated President Kennedy. President Kennedy says, “...the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” He certainly did that. I think we should all appreciate those who run for political office, and sometimes risk their lives to do it. So, let us express our appreciation to politicians even those (and this is very difficult for me to say) even those we disagree with.

Let me take a minute to brag on my daughter, if you will. She’s an intern in Washington in Sen. Carl Levin’s office. In a few weeks, she’ll intern for the rest of the summer in Sen. Tom Harkin’s office. I’m so proud of her. As I imagine, or at least I hope, that all parents are proud of their children. Haim Ginott was a school teacher in Israel, a child psychologist and the author of the book, “Between Parent and Child.” Haim Ginott says, “If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.” I think all children - like all adults - want to be appreciated. So, let us express our appreciation to our children - in some cases, for just being children.

I’ve started sending my wife flowers at work. For traditional flower-sending holidays, like Valentine’s Day. And even for non-traditional flower-sending holidays, like St. Patrick’s Day. (She’s not even Irish. Although I guess we’re all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. “I’ll take another green beer, please.”) I send her flowers, because she appreciates getting flowers. I also do it to show how much I appreciate her. Mother Teresa says, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” I think we should all appreciate those we love. So, let us express our appreciation to loved ones; with words, and maybe even sometimes with flowers.

My wife and I moved to Muskegon a few weeks ago. We live a five minute stroll from the beach, so we watch a sunset nearly every night. Now I’m not a big fan of “praising” God. It makes me think that if God exists, she has an ego that needs to be stroked. But when I see a sunset, I want to praise someone or something. Or maybe just say, “Thank heavens!” Alan Cohen owns the Florida Panthers hockey team. (I guess they’re called the Panthers, because panthers are known to be so agile on the ice.) Alan Cohen says, “Appreciation is the highest form of prayer.” I think we should all appreciate all the life that surrounds us. So, let us express our appreciation to God or Goddess or Nature or the Universe or the Holy or the Source or Whatever, for all that is seen and unseen.

Today we celebrate Appreciation Sunday, a chance for us to say, “Thank you,” to those who give of their time, talent and treasure to make this congregation what it is. So: If you give of your time, by showing up here on Sunday morning or in some other way, “Thank you.” If you give of your talent, by singing or playing an instrument on Sunday morning or in some other way, “Thank you.” If you give of your treasure, by putting money in the collection basket on Sunday morning or in some other way, “Thank you.”

I was listening to the radio the other day and I heard a phrase in a piece of music that says what I want to say better than I can. “Life is a song worth singing.” Isn’t that the truth. So, let us sing the song of life, let us express our appreciation for life and let us express our appreciation to all those who make our life and our congregation better. Oh, and thank you for listening to my sermon. I appreciate it.